Stage III is
divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. In stage IIIC, no
tumor is found in the breast or the tumor may be any size.
Cancer may have spread to the skin of the breast and caused
swelling or an ulcer and/or has spread to the chest wall.
Also, cancer has spread to: (1) 10 or more axillary lymph
nodes; or (2) lymph nodes above or below the collarbone; or
(3) axillary lymph nodes and lymph nodes near the
breastbone. Cancer that has spread to the skin of the
breast may also be inflammatory breast cancer. For
treatment, stage IIIC breast cancer is divided into
operable and inoperable stage IIIC.

Stage IIIC breast cancer. No tumor is found in the breast or the tumor may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or to the skin of the breast and caused swelling or an ulcer. Also, cancer has spread to 10 or more axillary lymph nodes (left panel); OR to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone (middle panel); OR to axillary lymph nodes and lymph nodes near the breastbone (right panel). Cancer that has spread to the skin of the breast may be inflammatory breast cancer.